Dave & Melanie's Engagements-Millcreek Canyon

Nothing quite like young love...or photographing it up a canyon covered in orange leaves.

Its been a long time coming you two, and in my never to be humble opinion, I think you two are a great match.

Dave I know it was almost like having to get a root canal to have a camera pointed at your face for over an hour, but was it really that painful. Since when is kissing, burrowing and holding hands painful? (OK, maybe in public, but NEVER at the cabin).

I dare say all the cousins will be jealous you were the first to take engagements up at the cabin, but I think they will understand, Dave being the favorite grandchild and all. Can we please share the title?!

Love you guys! Can't wait for December!

this is the reason.

As a lover of the senses..touch, taste, sight, sound, smell...I often find myself searching for the meaning in the tangible and the not so tangible. What gives meaning to my life? It has never been enough for me to be OK with the "doing" without the "why". I want it to mean something to me. I want it personal.

Many times in my career I have contemplated why I choose photography, or why photography choose me. I have wondered about the course I should take with photography and how within that given course I can make a difference, or contribute to something more, something better.

I am still on my journey to finding out all the ways I can and should make a difference with my photos, but tonight one of my reasons was set in concrete.

I was musing through my friend Nikki's blog and came upon a woman's blog. This woman is a photographer and has taken beautiful photos of not only others peoples children, but her own. I started reading and was immediately sucked into something real and something unmistakeably meaningful.

Her daughter Ava at the age of 3 died in a tragic accident. Her blog, started before the death, chronicles a beautiful life before and a beautiful life after. As I read and watched her photos tell their family's story I was..in a trance. I knew that these photos she had taken of her baby were some of the most important reminders of happiness, hope and life that she will ever have.

Read her story and ask yourself the questions that a story like that demands you ask.

What gives meaning to your life?

For me, one of my "meanings" come from trying in my own way to help people remember and cherish the nature of their lives. To document something that is real for them. To be there when important moments happen and try to give them something tangible as a reminder of the intangible things that can only exist and stay deep in the resting place of ones soul.

There is a Native American and Aborigine superstition that taking a photograph of a person steals a part of their soul. Maybe they are on to something. Maybe its less like stealing and more like copying or borrowing. Maybe its the reason so many of us are drawn to beautiful photographs. Maybe.

Talese's Bridals- Millcreek Caynon, Utah

This was one of those shoots that you never want to end. So fun, so inventive, so refreshing. The canyon was breathtaking and Talese was stunning. I loved everything about it!! The colors, the brisk air, the glamorous jewelry, the crimson lips....THE DEAD FOX! This girl was willing to go the extra mile to get the shot, and it paid off. More images to come...Talese I love you!!

Sienna's Birth-Sept 14, 2007

I missed the actual birth by 5 minutes!!!!!! There aren't enough exclamation points to express my frustration with that. Wrong freeway exit, wrong hospital building and running on foot. Man.

I'll tell you what wasn't wrong...that baby. She is perfect. Jackie ended up having her natural which should give her bragging rights for the next 5 years or so...maybe a lifetime of bragging if you ask me.

I loved being able to see mom, dad and aunt ooh and ahh over her and unlike most births I had more than my fair share of holding time. Thank you so much for letting me be there to capture all the "after" moments...those are the ones people really want to see anyway. Love you guys.

Becky & Dustin's Wedding-SLC, UT

Its taken me a while to post these because I have been busy on the new website...These are some of the images from this wedding that are going to be showcased in the new site. Becky and Dustin, the rest of your pictures will be online to view in the next few days.

The best part of shooting this wedding was definitely hanging out with the bride and groom. They were so laid back and open to any idea I had. They were just so easy to work with and I could tell they have a great relationship with each other. At his own reception Dustin was even asking if he could bring ME a drink of water! So thoughtful.

A highlight was watching Becky run back to give her dad a hug after she had gotten in the escape car and drove away. It was such a sweet moment to be there for. How lucky am I to get to experience all these meaningful moments in other peoples life's?

What People Think

click on the photos to enlarge type.

Children & Family Rates

Family Documentaries

I believe the best way to capture the true nature of a family or a person is to photograph them doing what they normally do, where they normally do it with the people they normally do things with!

So much of family dynamic has to do with life at home on just ordinary days...sitting around a dinner table, brushing teeth, chasing the dog, tucking little ones into bed,
relaxing on the couch after a long day... Besides home life, other opportunities to show relationships between family members come from time spent away from the ordinary, on vacation or planning an outing together.

Possible activities:


-family vacation
-beach day
-dinner time
-bedtime
-bath time
-school days
-taking a walk
-going to a park
-dance lessons
-soccer games
-piano practice
-reading books
-car rides
-road trips
-day at disneyland
-art projects

Pricing:

Rates will range between $500 and $5000 depending on number of activities/days to be photographed. Please contact Rachel if interested for more complete pricing.


Family Portrait Pricing

$500
up to 2 hrs on location
3-20 people
includes a $250 credit towards reordering


Children Portrait Pricing

$150
newborn to 12yrs
1-2hrs


First Year Package

$1000

The first year package includes 5 different hour sessions documenting the most pivotal stages of a child's 1st year.

-newborn (can still lay in fetal position, lots of great details)
-3 months (starting to smile and form recognizable expressions)
-6 months (sitting up, more aware of surroundings, love this stage.)
-9 months (standing, fat little legs, crawling shots, baby on the move!)
-12 months (walking, independent and into everything!)

each session comes with 1-11x14 mounted print, images hosted online for viewing and ordering and at the completion of all 5 sessions, a 8x8 -20pg Contemporary Image Portfolio is presented with your favorite images showcased of your child's first year.

Jackie and Giselle